16/12/19 across
The
French
cataclysm
comes
after
a
promise
betrayed
–
8’s
not
bothered?
(5,3,2,6)
The French cataclysm comes after a promise betrayed – 8’s not bothered? (5,3,2,6)
hints
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hints
The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
Here "8" is pointing you back to 8 across, which is LOUIS XV, and the whole phrase 8's not bothered? is your definition — it's the famous line attributed to him about shrugging off the future. For the wordplay, "a promise" gets "betrayed" (anagrammed) into APRES MOI, then "The French" gives you LE and "cataclysm" gives DELUGE, and these two "come after" that anagram to build the full saying.